Books That Will Inspire You to Travel
This girl reads….a lot. So this is a shortlist of books that have made me feel like I was transported somewhere else, if just for a few hours. You can also check out our list of movies that will inspire you to travel, there are a couple of books on there that were turned into movies.
THE PARIS WIFE
The story of Ernest Hemingway’s first wife, Hadley has stuck with me and remains one of my all-time favorites. Set in Jazz Age Paris, Hemingway and his crew of famous artists knew how to have a good time. The story takes us from their whirlwind courtship to the challenges of marriage and will make you want to go back in time to meet them at the bar (ahem, Midnight in Paris).
THE VACATIONERS
Have you ever wanted to spend a summer in Mallorca? I didn’t really until I read this book. The story of a multi generational American family’s vacation to a home on the Spanish island showcases living like a local away from the tourist traps.
LOVE WITH A CHANCE OF DROWNING
I really enjoyed this memoir of a woman’s incredible leap of faith to travel around the world via a sailboat with her newfound love. They get into some wild times and I’ll be honest, I don’t think there’s an amount you could pay me to embark on a journey of this kind but I definitely enjoyed reading about it!
BEAUTIFUL RUINS
Ah, Italy, take me back. A beautiful story set on the Italian coast with a little bit of Hollywood thrown in takes us from 1962 to present day in this love story. You can tell by the author’s descriptive account of small-town Italy that he fell in love with the area and I bet it will make you want to get to the Cinque Terre immediately whether it’s your first time or a return trip.
THE GREAT ALONE
I didn’t see it coming that I’d be adding Alaska to my bucket list upon finishing this book. The state is a character of its own in the novel by one of my absolute favorite authors (read The Nightingale, my #1 all-time favorite book, soon to be released as a movie!). The story of a family looking for a fresh start in the Alaska wilderness is a bit bleak at times but it was a great opportunity to broaden my understanding about how others live, even within our own country.
SOMETHING IN THE WATER
While at times I found it frustrating, this book about a couple on their honeymoon to Bora Bora is the perfect beach read. It’s a fast-paced psychological thriller about a buried treasure of sorts that leads the newlyweds down an unexpected path. It’s possibly the only book I’ve ever read set in French Polynesia and it paints a beautiful picture of this epic honeymoon destination.
BOOKS TO GIFT YOUR FAVORITE TRAVELER
How To Pack – Hitha Palepu
Grey Malin Coffee table books
GREAT BOOKS THAT WERE TURNED INTO MOVIES
(check out the full list of our favorite travel movies here!)
Eat Pray Love
Under the Tuscan Sun
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